European Commission Opens
Investigation Into Tax Breaks

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission rattled multinational companies with plans to challenge a bevy of tax breaks they get from European governments.

Making good on a threat to pursue European governments for what it considers predatory tax breaks, the commission launched 11 investigations against eight governments. It also threatened to open probes against four other governments if they don't end certain practices. And Mario Monti, the European Commissioner responsible for antitrust policy, promised more of the same to...